Although many families have been evacuated, others have stayed, anxiously keeping an eye on water levels. Ta Yuong, 67, and his wife Sun, 66, live with their six children in a one-room thatched-roof house mounted on stilts. The house stands two metres above ground yet water comes up to their knees inside and the family has to live on a raised bamboo platform to keep dry.

The Cambodian Red Cross is running a major relief and rehabilitation operation; in Kang Meas, workers have helped evacuate 230 families and distribute food, clothing and shoes to almost 1,500 other families.

Kheang Naeàs' house has been underwater for 10 days. The Red Cross-supplied food helps her family survive but it is difficult: Kheang is sick and so is her husband. She also has to care for her seven children and 55-year old mother. "I cannot work and my mother used to earn a meagre income of about 2,000R (less than one US dollar) per day selling water lilies. But since the floods began we have no money, because we have no boat," she said.

The flood waters have also hit the poor in the capital Phnom Penh. Sim Nara's pregnant wife and eight children are safe, supported on a bamboo-platform held up by six wooden-stools. He is now making a float, made of a wooden plank and plastic containers, for his dog. There are no latrines and drinking water has to be brought to the house by boat.

In response to the floods, which have also affected millions in neighbouring Laos and Vietnam, the International Federation is appealing internationally for 7.47 million Swiss francs (US $4.7 million) to assist the National Societies in the three affected countries.

Most than half this money is for Cambodia, where more than half a million people living along the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers have been affected. Emergency household kits will be distributed to 10,000 families and personal hygiene items will be given to 100,000 families who have lost their homes and possessions.

Since the floods began in July, the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) has mounted an effective relief campaign in cooperation with the National Committee on Disaster Management (NCDM). The CRC is assisting people in 11 provinces and Phnom Penh with food and basic relief goods, such as clothing, shelter material, medical supplies and mosquito netting.

Dr. Uy Sam Ath of the CRC said the number of people seeking assistance was increasing daily. "We are now discussing with the Federation further support for the long-term, particularly in the areas of community health, sanitation, purchase of household kits, disaster preparedness and volunteer networks," he said. Rehabilitation plans include repair to 200 wells and the replacement of at least 20 in flood-affected provinces.